Fat, then thin, now fat again?

Don't give up! I'm a nurse and I am always puzzled to see all these people have Gastric Bypass Surgery (patients or staff) just to gain 1/2 or all their weight back. I don't know what type of education they give patients who undergo the surgery, but I often find people not change their diet habits much. If they do change their diet.........it's usually all wrong. I don't know what eating habits you acquired post surgery, but we need to all make critical decisions when eating. Do small changes at a time. People often think that eating lettuce salads are healthy, and don't pay attention to their nutritional value. It takes time, but small changes work better. The things that have worked for me are: drinking a glass of water as soon as I wake up (with or without lemon), having a high protein low carb meal for breakfast, having a regular lunch (light on carbs but still have enough), and a balanced dinner with more veggies than anything. I have lots of healthy snacks in between my meals. I always carry a 32oz jug of water at all times, and lemon sometimes. I always carry Crystal Light with me for those occassional sugary drinks I crave. If I must have soda, I'll only have a 12oz Coke Zero and no other soda. I eat lots of egg whites and have come up with so many different ways to make them. I can eat them anytime during the day. I add Louisiana Hot Sauce, Picante Sauce, Jalapenos, or Tabasco Sauce to almost everything I eat.....helps with metabolism.....so I hear:) No more salad dressings for me. I only have EVOO with salads, or lemon juice.

A few people I knew that had the surgery would ask why they gained half their weight back. I'd have lunch with them, and to my surprise, they'd be eating a HUGE salad for the "few" calories, but pack it on with soooooo much ranch. I would tell them, "you might as well gotten a Big Mac to get you full and probably would have had fewer calories."

Aside from my stories, don't give up. Read, read, read on nutrition. Read on how muscles develops. Read about how our body automatically stores calories as fat when we put ourselves in a starvation mode. Our body mechanism is amazing. It does things at the cellular level which we can't change, but eat right to help our cells do what we want them to do. Read about metabolism. Though, I would have to say that one of the greatest errors we make is putting our bodies in a starvation mode.

Good luck on your journey! You got this!!

Wow, just when I thought I was alone here I find others that are going through the same as I am, I was a big girl all my life, when I turned 37 I was in the best shape of my life, at a great healthy weight, jogging in 10K run because I could! And here I am today just trying to get back on track, I gained back 69 of the 95 I had lost, I am so disappointed in myself. Looking into my closet I wonder when I started buying bigger cloths and packing the smaller stuff. I have not ran in 2 years and have no energy, reminds me of why I lost weight in the first place, I just cannot seem to get back on track. I lost all my weight by eating balanced healthy meals, drinking water and a variety of exercise.. I know it can be done, please help me become more dicipline as my only hold back is me. Thanks for starting this topic!

i lost 50 pounds two years ago.. now im up 25. very very frustrated. i had two knee surgeries that sidelined me a bit. but now im just embarrased that i gained it back.. some days i dont even like to leave the house. im finding it very hard to get back on the wagon..

Some links to great reads to help you

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105036-article-on-flexible-dieting-by-armi-legge?page=1#posts-17068746

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1122891-9-reasons-fat-loss-is-always-slower-than-you-d-like

I ended up gaining all that I lost 2 1/2 years ago I was 250lbs, dropping down from 300lbs. Then was in serious car accident and when being able to walk again 2 years later I was 330lbs. Been close to almost a year ( baby steps in losing) and have gotten back down to 286. Still pushing to get to 130lbs as I am only 5'3. Things happen in life were we get happy and our health suffers as we don't pay attention..but don't think of yourself as anything less than AMAZING!! Weight is a number, not a definition of who you are. I hate when people can judge a person (period) on weight or anything about them that they don't agree with. Its like WOW. You got this girl!! just eat healthier and take small steps into exercising more and you will do amazing!! Think of this as a second change journey, you did it once and so have confidence that you can do it again!!

oh my god i know how you feel. I went from 260 lbs. to 148 lbs. using mfp. i stopped, now im back to 215 lbs. im starting mfp all over again! stay confident and motivated! we can do this :-)

2 years ago, my husband and I changed our eating habits, eating strictly steak, chicken, fish and veggies for 6 weeks. Through the torture, I lost 25 pounds. Then slowly but surely, I put 15 pounds back on. So disappointed in myself. I'm an emotional eater, to simply say I eat my emotions. While eating junk food, I'm very aware of the consequences but still, I eat . Ugggg....:sad: